Sewing machine



W. A. AYRES SEWING MACHINE Feb. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 27,1954 Feb. 12, 1957 w. A. AYREs SEWING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 27, 1954 INVENToR. Wave-MA@ A. /yREs 1 a Afro/@Nays United SEWINGMACHINE Waldemar A. Ayres, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to White SewingMachine Corporation, Lakewood, Ohio, a corporation of DelawareApplication December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,782

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-221) This invention relates to a sewing machine andmore particularly to an improved drive mechanism for the needle bar of asewing machine.

When sewing machines have been operated at high speeds excessivevibrations have been present and this draw-back has resulted in limitingsuccessful high speed operation of sewing machines.

A large contributing factor to the creation of vibrations during highspeed operation of sewing machines has been the arrangements utilizedfor actuating the reciprocating needle bar. The necessity of rapidlychanging the direction of movement of the mass of the reciproeatingneedle bar contributes largely to the creation of vibrations in thesewing machine head during high speed operation. Also the mechanismsheretofore used for translating rotary motion into reciprocating motionof the needle bar have been inducive to the creation of vibrations athigh speed operation.

An object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine a needlebar construction and a mechanism for reciprocating the same which is ofsuch character that the creation of vibrations will be held to a minimumand the mechanism will permit high speed operation of the machinesubstantially Without vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine animproved mechanism for reciprocating the needle bar and which includesmeans for counterbalancing the reciprocating needle bar so as tosubstantially eliminate vibrations even at high speed operation andwhich mechanism is quiet in operation both at high and low speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine animproved mechanism for reciprocating the needle bar at high speeds andsubstantially without vibration and which mechanism is so constructed asto readily lend itself to the inclusion therein as a part thereof of arotary take-up for the upper or needle thread of the sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved needle barsupporting unit which mounts therein the actuating mechanism for theneedle bar and the rotary take-up for the upper or needle thread andwhich unit with the parts referred to therein can as a unit be securedin and removed from the free end of the horizontal arm of the sewingmachine head, thus facilitating the assembly of the sewing machine. v

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbeforespecically referred tok will become apparent hereinafter during thedetailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is tofollow and which embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through the sewing machine head andthe bed plate thereof and is taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 2but with a portion of the endless belt shown in elevation andillustrates the unit ,supporting the reciprocating needle bar and theactuating mechanism for the needle bar as well as the take-up for theupper or needle thread.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sewing machine head shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially onirregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the take-up for the upper thread and istaken from line 4--4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an exploded sectional and partial elevational view of theparts of the wobble actuating mechanism for the reciprocating needlebar.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view of an element of the wobbleactuating mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevational view of another element of the wobbleactuating mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view of the element shown in Fig. 7 and is takenlooking from the right hand side of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detached elevational View of the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. l0 is a detached elevational View of the reciprocating needle barturned from the position of the needle bar in Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a detached elevational view of the needle barcounterbalancing plunger, and

Fig. l2 is a detached elevational view of the needle barcounterbalancing plunger shown in Fig. ll but with the plunger turned 99from the position of Fig. ll.

Referring iirst to Figs. l and 2, the sewing machine head embodying theinvention comprises the bed plate 15 beneath which is mounted the sewingmechanism as will oe well understood. The bed plate 15 of the sewingmachine head has on its upper side either integral therewith or securedthereto a gooseneck consisting of a hollow vertically extending standard16 which connects at its upper end with an integrally formed hollowhorizontal arm 17 which overlies the bed plate 15. The horizontal arm 17is provided interiorly with a partition or end wall 1S, the upper end18a of which is oiset toward the standard 16, that is, otset toward theright as viewed in Fig. l.

The outer or free end of the horizontal arm 17 has secured to the wall1S the supporting unit carrying the needle bar and its actuatingmechanism. The unit is enclosed by a housing 19 the top or upper side ofwhich is provided with an opening 21. The housing 19 forms acontinuation of the horizontal arm 17 and is secured thereto by screws26.

A supporting unit for the needle bar, the counterbalancing plunger andthe actuating or driving mechanism for the needle bar and plunger ismounted on the outer end of the horizontal arm 17'and is secured to thepartition or wall 18. This unit com-prises an attaching portion 22 whichis secured to the partition 18 by suitable securing means such as screwsor bolts and extends vertically of the partition from its lower end tothe point thereof Where the offset upper end 18a commences, see Figs. l,2 and 3. The portion 22 has integral outwardly extending verticallyspaced upper and lower horizontal walls 23 and 24. The arms 23 and 24 attheir outer ends are integral with the vertically extending portion 25of the unit which mounts the needle bar, the counter balancing plungerand the usual presser foot rod as will later be explained.

The walls 23 and 24 are provided with vertically aligned openings inwhich are mounted suitable bearing bushings 26 which rotatably support avertically extending driveY shaft 27 forming part of the drive for thereciprocating needle bar and counterbalancing plunger. The shaft 27 271/withitsimp erinlined end engaging the lowerV in- 'Clied en@ 23.1 of theYblack 28.k 'Tne- `ring .32 mounts :on circumference 'the innerracer33vl9f all antifriction bedenke inter. rawfuhihjis indicated at 3aand the balls' at'35,V seeFigs. l and '5,' e

'Ifnewouter'Y orh actuating ri"n g3 6 is mounted, onV theVcircleeiiereucth@ guter rese' laad this uns' 36 is -Oprativelyconnectedto `the reciprocating needle vbar as will latergbe explained. Ablock`37.,identical with theblocli 2S," is vkeyed tolthe shaft 27 butininveitedrelationship lo' thebl'o'cli 27S so that its inclined upper end'that Vis complementary tothe inclined lower end 3i of the block.28bears Yagainstthe ring 32, the inner and V`outer races of theoearing andthe outer or yactuating ring 36.

A similar actuating mechanism to that just described is mounted on theshaft 27 adjacent the wallz24 and the parts of thisrmechanismrareidentied Vbythe same referennce numerals as used'for'the first mentionedmechanism but with the exponent a.

The two mechanisms just referred to Willbe desig# 11a-ted hereinaswobble actuating mechanisms,Y with the upper one being` theactuating'mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar and the lower onethe actuating mechanism Y for the reciprocating actuatirigmechanism forthe plunger engages the anged upper end -of the lower bushing v26and'that said upper -and'l'oweractuating-mechanisms are mounted ontheshaft so vas torbelSD-Fout of phase. Y d rIfile shaft -27- above thewallrZS has xed toit a drive e pulley 38-eand above the drive pulley,38there is fixed 'to 'the Vshaft 217 within the opening 421l of the top ofthe housing i9 a circular disk 39 forming a hand wheel.

Thelhousing 19 is open at its lower end'and 'theshaft 27 extends belowthe wall 24 and `Yhas'xed to it a disk O ferming partpf ay threadtake-up for the needle thread (seeFigs. i and 4). The ldisk 40 radiallyoutwardly from its center has `a headedrscrew or post 40a threadedlyconnected tO-itandlOCated inanpelongat'edslotfila of l'a.lev'erarrn d.-Thelever arm 41 is pivoted at `one end to Aalalocl:{1lb-secured to thewalls24while the opposite end yotlthc lever arm is provided withl anopening4 441C Y through .whichpasses-the-needle thread.

callyextendingY portion 2S of the supporting unit is provided with apair of parallel lvertically extendvingeboresil andft-.whichare alignedinfthe longitudinal directionA oftheE horizontal arm if/. Also/the.portion 25 is, provided with a slot'44which'starts at-the-wall 24 landpasses transversely-through thebores 42 fand 43 `to th.: outlforlefthand end of the portion 25. The slot Y fgestends verticaily from `theupper. end Yof the portion .2S downwardlyftothe .lower-sident. the.wa-ll 24 -.for a I^1 'xfhichfvillflater'beapparent.,

Sl/tdably mauntedin the boreAZgis- .thereciprocating lcounterha'lancingplungerd, .-the .uppenend lof which f is .bifurcatcd toprovi'detfspacedparallel gears .145 'and vwhich ears Aareprovided ...withlaligned-openings 47'." I The bore 43- s Almuniterlftfiferein' fadjagentits lown end ^va `ibuslii'ng .4S landxspaced'vertically :above tthebushing A43 a :second bushing 149., :The 4bushings 48.and-492areproyide'd-with Y wunterbalancins plunger. Yit willbe notedthat the lower block 37g of the Y 43. It will be seen that thereciprocating needle bar is adequately guidedfor true verticalVrecip'roca'tion`bythe spaced bushings 48 and 4 9 and by the sliding tof the enlarged upper end` 51 of the needle barin the bore 43.

The enlarged upper end 51 of the needle bar is bifurcated to provide apair of upwardly extending spaced parallel ears 52 and saidLears'l areprovided with horizontal aligned openingst. A rocker shoe 54 isYrockably mounted between the ears'SZon a pivot pin 55. The lower end ofthe rocker shoefSflisrprovided withanopen- Y Vtuating ring 36a oftheylower wobble" actuating jme'ch# anism. Y

It will berecalledY thattheupperor needlejbar wobble actuating mechanismand4 the lower Vor .counterbalancing plunger wobble actuating'rnechanismiare di sp osed`l 80 'out ofphase, wherefore when1the shaft27 rotates the pins -57'k and l57a willicause 'oppositely yphasedreciprocaf 'tion oftl;\e needleV bar andgof the AconnterbalancingYplunger-at 'the same'speeds.

ewinbe'notea'tjhat the slot 44 in the portion 2511i the supporting unit'accommodates gthe oscillating move ment of :thepinsSTalnd 57aandfthevrocking movements of the-shoes 5 4 V,and 54a. It will alsobegnotedthatwhen thefpinj? -is in its lowermorst position :and 'the pin57a is in Vits uppermost position as indicated -byiash and dot lines inFig. l there wil1 b e no. interference between Ythesepartsor-bctvveenithe rockingjshoes 54andg54a. As already Ystatedgtheglee'dleYbar is hollow .or tubular and hence the -massgof thegneedlefbar can be"correlated to -the -mass of the icou'nterbalancing.dV plunger 45; even*thoughV lthe 'lattcr'is' Substantially shorter `in Ylengthv than theneedle bar, it 4beingnoted'tliat-the''plunger'45 'is or" solid E crosssect-'ion g-andsubstantially Agreater in diameter than the diameter ofthe needleZY bar.. Y

Themassoffthe needle bar'and Athe needle Yclamping mechanism SSfat thelower end'lof fthe-'needle `bar and of-the needle 59? .:lzunpedl 1insa'idgmechanism 58can be eqn-alito theemass'of-theplunger-45,'-wh`erefore the oppositel-yf phased reeiprocation of the'needle bar Y`and plunger-*twill be fully fcounterbalanced; therebyeliminat- Ving vibrationsparticularlyat V`high', speeds. Als theopposit'ely .phased upper l andjlowervwobble actuating mechanismfonthe--1shaft -27 'being identical counterball ance -eachlother andreduceto a minimumlan-y vibration which might occur during their operation;

' portion 25 of thesupportingunitis -provided with a -third Nerticallyextending VQbdreloc'a'ted behind'and parallel to -the bore :.43-:;andV.slidably' A.mounting .the Yusual `presser :foot rod 169,1 on-thelower-end of lwhich'- is ,mnuntcd the usual; presser, foot 61. e

Anfendlessbelt 52 .extends around Ythe 'pulley 38fand is connected `1to. asdrive .source, not shown,Y and which source also is operativelyconnected Yuio-a se-wingfmechanisni,. not es hown, andllocatedbelow-.ther-fbed, :it xbeing understoodlthat said f source Jandcoittne'ctions cause the parts .to :beoperatedlso-that;the-needle-barfwillrecipro- 4]; will; oscillate .thelatter.:in-trnedarelationsliipfto Vthe avermi reciprocation of theneedle bar. It will be understood that as the needle bar moves in itsupward stroke the lever arm 41 will move in a direction such as to takeup the slack in the needle thread which passes through the opening diein the arm 4l and through the eye of the needle. It will also beunderstood that when the needle moves in its downward stroke the leverarm 4l will move in a direction to slack od the needle thread andprovide sufficient thread for the sewing operation. In addition, it willbe understood that the needle thread passes from a suitable supply spoolor bobbin mounted on the sewing machine head through a tensioningdevice, not shown, and through thread guiding elements from the spool orbobbin through the eye or opening 41e to the eye of the needle as willbe well understood in the art.

From the foregoing detailed description of an embodiment of theinvention it will be evident that an improved drive for thereciprocating needle bar has been provided and which drive enables quietvibrationless highfspeed operation of the sewing machine andparticularly of the reciprocation of the needle bar. ln addition, itwill be noted that improved and eicient take-up for the upper 'or needlethread is provided and that said taire-up can be incorporated readilyinto the actuating mechanism for the needle bar and the counterbalancingplunger.

Although a prefered embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptibleof various modifications and adaptations within the scope lof theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard anda hollow horizontal arm projecting from said standard and mountingadjacent its outer end a vertically reciprocating needle bar andprovided in its upper wall adjacent to its outer end with an opening, avertically extending rotatable shaft in said arm adjacent and parallelto said needle bar and coaxial with said opening and extending into thesame, means operatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar toeffect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft, a handwheel disk fixed to the upper end of said shaft in said opening, threadtake-up means operatively connected to the lower end of said shaft, andmeans for rotating said shaft to actuate said thread take-up and toreciprocate said needle bar.

2. In a sewing machine as dened in claim 1 and wherein said threadtake-up means includes a disk fixed to the lower end of said shaft andprovided on its lower side with a downwardly extending headed postspaced radially outwardly from the axis of said shaft, a lever armpivoted at one end to a xed part of the head andl provided at its otherend with an opening through which the needle thread is adapted to passand having intermediate its ends an elongated slot in which said headedpost is located.

3. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein the meansoperatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar to eectreciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft includes a pairof block members secured to said shaft in axially spaced relationshipvand having their adjacent ends inclined to the axis of said shaft, aspacer ring of less diameter than said members on said shaftintermediate said members and having its opposite ends complementary toand contacting the inclined ends of said members, an antifrictionbearing surrounding said ring with its inner race mounted on thecircumference of said ring, an actuated ring mounted on the outer raceof said bearing, and an operative connection between said actuating ringand said Vneedle bar.

4. In a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard anda hollowhorizontalarm projecting from said standard and mountingadjacent its outer or free end a vertically reciprocating needle bar andprovided in its upper wall adjacent to its outer or free end with anopening, a vertically extending rotatable shaft in said arm adjacent andparallel to said needle bar and coaxial with said opening and extendinginto the same, a hand wheel disk fixed to the upper end of said shaft insaid opening, thread take-up means operatively connected to the lowerend of said shaft and located below the bottom wall o-f sm'd horizontalarm, a vertically reciprocating counterbarlancing plunger parallel tosaid needle bar and said shaft and located intermediate the same andhaving a mass which substantially equals the` mass of the needle bar, apair of axially spaced oppositely phased wobble actuating mechanisms onand rotatable with said shaft, an operative connection between yone ofsaid mechanisms and said needle bar and an operative connection betweenthe other of said mechanisms and said plunger for translating rotationof said mechanisms into oppositely phased reciprocation of said needlebar ano plunger, and means for rotating said shaft to actuate saidthread take-up and to reciprocate said needle bar and said plunger.

5. in a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard anda hollow horizontal arm projecting from said standard, a supporting unitsecured to the free end of said horizontal arm, a vertically extendingshaft rotatably supported in said unit in vertically spaced bearings, ahand wheel fixed to the upper end of said shaft above the upper of saidbearings, a needle bar supported by said unit for vertical reciprocationand parallel to said shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft withsaid needle bar to effect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation ofsaid shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

6. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein acounterbalancing plunger parallel to said needle bar and shaft andintermediate the same is supported by said unit for verticalreciprocation, and means is provided for operatively connecting saidshaft with said plunger to edect reciprocation of the latter uponrotation of said shaft in opposite phase to the reciprocation of theneedle bar.

7. in a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein said shaftVbelow the lower of said bearings has operatively connected to it athread take-up means.

8. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein a pulley isfixed to said shaft intermediate the upper of said bearings and saidhand wheel, and a shaft rotating belt extends around saidy pulley.

9. In a sewing machine as dened in claim 6 and wherein the meansoperatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar includes a pairof block members secured to said shaft in axially spaced relationshipintermediate said bearings and having their adjacent ends inclined tothe horizontal, a spacer ring of less diameter than said members on saidshaft intermediate said members and having its opposite endscomplementary to and contacting the inclined ends of said members, ananti-friction bearing on said ring with the inner race thereof carriedby the circumference of said ring, an actuating ring on the outer raceof said'bearing, and an operative connection between said yactuatingring and said needle bar.

Refxences Cited in the file of vthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGermany '..e Feb.r 28, 1952

